1.1 Chapter Two:: The Winged Black Gear
"Karina.. Why do you want to come..?" Billy looked at her with a piercing look.
"I don't know.." Karina sat in the cockpit.
"You do too.." He grabbed her hand. "Tell me.."
"I-I can't.." She said nervously.
"You.. You are a spy.. Aren't you?!" Billy said with a hurt look.
"No! It isn't that!" Karina gasped.
"Then what is it?!" He didn't look back.
"I can't.. I can't.." Karina whispered.
"Yes, you can!" His ice blue eyes flashed.
"No…." Karina looked away.
"Whatever.." He looked away.
"Billy!! Sup, man?" Bart's voice came over the intercom.
"Hey, Bart." Billy whispered.
"Glad you could join us.." Fei added.
"You boys! We have a job to do! The only people working are Rico and Maria!" Elly scolded.
"Take care of lady Karina, Billy." Citan ordered.
"You had better.." Bart growled.
"She'll be fine.." Billy grumbled.
"I am all right.." Karina whispered.
"Let us keep it that way." Maria panted. "These guys must be new models.. They are very tough.."
"Take this!" Bart laughed as he jumped at the other gears.
"Young one, you are very reckless.." Citan threw his sword into one of the gears.
"It is fun! I need a CD player in here playin' rock or somethin'!" Andvari flew out of the midst of explosions.
"There is no end to them.." Karina looked around.
"And they are after you?" Billy blinked. "Why are you so important..?"
"I will tell you later.." She decided to trust him. "But how do we know that they had the intentions to fight..?"
"They began fire on us a few moments before we got out here!" Sigurd's voice came over the intercom.
"Oh… I see… Anyway… I will tell you why I think they are attacking us after we get out of here…"
"If we get out of this.." Billy whispered grimly.
"What?!" Karina's voice became high. "What do you mean?!"
"Billy! Do we need to have the discussion about probability of us winning?!" Bart yelled.
"No."
"Good. Then we shall not talk further about this, I'll have your resume' in the mail tomorrow." Bart sighed.
"Karina.." Billy cut off the transmission so that the others couldn't hear.
"Yes?" She looked at him.
"I am sorry.." Billy whispered.
"It is all right.. I understand.." Karina smiled.
"Good.." He sighed and looked back.
"You have been eerily silent Billers, you ain't doin' something to Kar, are you?" Bart's incessant voice drummed in.
"Bart!" Billy whined.
"Hi, Bart.." Karina smiled.
"Hey, the dudes seemed to have stopped comin'!" Bart yelled.
"But who.. I- I mean WHAT is that?!" Citan squawked. "It seems to be a new model gear of some sort.. intriguing.."
"It ain't 'intriguing'!" Bart yelled.
"It is.." Fei trailed off. A huge gear stood in front of them. "A fat bas--"
"Fei! We have minors in here! No cursing!" Elly growled.
"I know! Billy can't here that sort of stuff! Keh hehe" Bart snickered.
"I am going to ignore that.." Billy whispered.
"I am going to sing the doom song now! Doom doom doom doom.." Bart laughed.
"Bart.. Please stop singing!" Billy whimpered.
"My systems won't work, Fei's Kim!" Crescens floated uselessly in the air.
"Nor mine!" Citan whined.
"Hark! Mineth willnotith workith eitherith!!" Bart squeaked.
"Nice accent, Bart.. Mine either.." Billy tried to move the arm.
"Damn- I- I mean DARN! Oh screw it! DAMN!!!" Fei screamed.
"Sig! A little backup would be nice!!!" Bart yelled.
"Sorry, young master, but our systems are jammed.." Sigurd whispered.
"Great.." Billy frowned. "Are you sure there isn't anything you can do, Siggy?"
"Stop calling him Siggy you little..!" Bart trailed off.
"It is after me! Let it have me!" Karina
"No way.." Billy whispered. "I won't let that happen."
"Keep on dancing around her Billers, you'll score soon." Bart growled.
"Give me the girl.." The gear spoke.
"Who are you?!" Billy looked over at it.
"Never mind that, give me the girl now!" The gear turned to Renmazuo.
"Not on your life!" Bart dared.
"Why do you want me?!" Karina begged.
"You know lady Karina.." It whispered.
"No.. I don't!" She dug her fingers into Billy's cloak.
"Calm down, Kar.." Billy whispered.
"You won't let her go.. Then die!" It rammed into Renmazuo.
"Billers!" Bart shook his head. "What am I talking about?! Karina!!"
"Leave them alone!" Crescens lunged at it.
"Back, little android!" It slammed Crescens away like it was paper.
"Ugh.." Billy grabbed his head. "That is gonna hurt tomorrow.. Karina?" He glanced back. "Karina.. are you okay?"
"Thanks to you, I am.." She rubbed her leg. "Ouch.."
"Is your leg okay?" He whispered.
"Yeah.." She sighed.
"Time to finish you all off.." The gear growled.
"Oh.." Bart whimpered. "SHIT!!"
"Burning.." It started. "What the?!" It screamed.
"Get out now, Lady, young ones.." A soft voice whispered.
"Who are you?!" It screamed. A large black gear with black wings hovered behind the other gear.
"Get out now.." It whispered.
"I say we take the dude's free pass out of this.." Bart blinked.
"Let us go now.. Young ones.." Citan pulled Bart away.
"Gotcha.." Renmazuo wobbled up and followed Fenrir and Andvari uneasily.
"Emeralda, Elly, let's get.." Xenogears flew away.
"Right!" Vierge and Crescens followed.
"Now, come on." The black gear pulled out a huge scythe. The other gear turned to it.
"What was that?" Billy whispered.
"Not again." Karina looked over his shoulder.
"What?" He glanced back.
"N-Nothing." She looked away.
"Sig!" Bart ran in. "Sig, I want you to turn 90 southwest and take down the aft burners! After that, get this ship out of here by air! It will move a lot faster.." Bart looked up at the screen. "Those gears are havin' it out.. That black gear.. get a reading on it.."
"Impossible, young master.. It has some sort of shield.. My god the model is amazing though.. It is obvious that it may just be stronger than Xenogears.. We can get readings and pictures.. but it will take a few hours after we get out of this for the computer to compile it all.." Sigurd turned the Yggdrasil.
"Stronger than Xenogears?! That's impossible!" Bart shook his head. "Aw.. Screw it! We'll see later! You just get us out of here before our asses get burned!"
"I thought I told you to get out of here!" The gear turned to the Yggdrasil.
"We are tryin'! That thing has a grab on us and we can't shake it loose!" Bart grabbed the intercom.
"Fine then.. Let me assist you then.." It smashed into the other gear and turned back. "It can't keep that grab on you while it is in defense mode.."
"Whatever.. Sig, you know how much I hate taking charity like this, but we had better get out before we get our butts burned.." Bart nodded at Sigurd.
"Right.." Sigurd turned on the aft burners and shot the Yggdrasil up into the air. "Hold on, Young master!"
"I- I am!" Bart clung onto one of the rails. He fell over and skidded against a wall.
"We are now out of the area of the gears.." He smiled weakly.
"Sig.. next time we do that.. give me a little more warning.." Bart panted. "But that was pretty cool.."
"Young master, the aft burners are damaged from being turned on too quickly and being overheated." He turned to Bart and gestured at the door. "You go relax for a few minutes, I'll finish here and then go down and check them.. In about and hour and a half could you come back up and take control?"
"Yeah, sure!" Bart grinned and gave him a thumbs up then ran out.
"Okay now." Bart paced back and forth.
"Young one, you have paced around saying that and then sighing for the past hour, what are you thinking about?" Citan glanced up. "I can't concentrate." He said rather impatiently.
"Well, Citan, I was thinking.." Bart stopped.
"Yes..?" Citan stood up.
"That maybe.." Bart looked around and leaned forward, his voice lowering to a whisper.
"What?!" Citan blinked.
"If Karina were a spy, she definitely wouldn't tell US right?" He looked down.
"Yeah, I suppose." Citan shrugged.
"So, she may be a spy." Bart sat up, grinning.
"And it took you an hour to think THAT up, congratulations Bartholomew." Billy clapped and rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"Where did you come from!?" Bart turned around.
"I've been here for fifteen minutes." Billy looked at him with his usual void of expression face.
"Whateva, anyhoo, I want you, yes YOU to.." Bart walked up to him and swung his arm over Billy's shoulder.
"What..?" Billy leaned away.
"Be sort of, a mole for me." Bart grinned.
"A mole.. why?" Billy squinted at him.
"Because.. Karina might be a spy and.. and.. I'm sure that if she is, she wants to kill me! I have a reason to be killed, besides my strikingly good looks and high intellect," Bart stopped.
"Yes, and these strikingly good looks and high intellect, where have you been hiding them?" Billy pulled away.
"You little..!" Bart swore under his breath. "Anyway, I DO have reasons to be killed."
"Is it because of that time we went to a carnival and you got drunk and you and Sigurd, Citan and my dad, curse him, painted each others stomachs and ran around and sang that god awful song.. And then you single- handedly destroyed the merry-go-round, while Fei and Elly were on it, resulting in lighting Fei's hair on fire, and then made most of the carnival go up in flames? And after that the manager chased after us saying he was going to get you and then you-" Billy said quickly. Citan looked over.
"No!" Bart grabbed Billy and covered his mouth. "During my hangover I told you, as the only person capable of thinking after and during that event, that we would never, NEVER mention that night, again!" Bart hissed.
"Bart, you said there was only minimal damage.." Citan grabbed his head.
"It was a small carnival!" Bart smiled. "Anyhoo, no, that was not the discussed murder threat." Bart growled.
"Oh, do you mean the flaming arrow flying through your window with the murder threat on it from the manager of that Cajun restaurant because you ate the whole buffet, salad bar and dessert cart and put that place out of business after you got drunk and painted my dad, curse him, and your stomachs with hot sauce and ran around singing that god awful song and then lit the place on fire after running into the kitchen and breaking a bottle of wine over an electric stove and spilling grease into the fire on the flambee' and then getting it all on you, making you run around screaming like a raving lunatic and lighting Fei's hair on fire and then while we ran away, you broke one of weight bearing poles, holding the place up, making it collapse into a fiery pile of Cajun seasoned hell?" Billy said quickly.
"Bart, do all of our outings end up in you and Jessie getting drunk and running around the place painting each others stomachs and singing that 'god awful song' and then lighting Fei's hair on fire and ending with us running away and the place exploding into some sort of fiery hell?" Citan added. "And having the manager send us some sort of threatening letter saying he is going to kill you?"
"Billy, you little nark!" Bart glared at Billy. "Why do you pay such close attention to my stupid antics!?"
"Oh, I don't anymore, I'm used to it now. Those incidents were from last month." Billy grinned. "Plus, I like getting you in trouble."
"Gawd! You are like a priest! How could you be such a little..!?" Bart stopped.
"Well! There are a lot of murder threats! Should we get out the big black box of Bart's murder threats?" Billy flinched.
"My beautiful hair finally grew back.." Fei sat against the wall, stroking the long ponytail of dark brown hair.
"Yeah.. It's about time for a barbecue.. It's getting too long.." Bart squinted.
"You stay away from my hair you insane prince- pirate boy!" Fei clenched his hair and glared at Bart.
"I am leaving before you get into one of your tiffs.." Billy tiptoed away.
"Citan, why aren't you leaving? Bart glanced at him.
"There has to be at least one responsible adult in the room with you two." Citan shrugged.
"You count BILLY as a responsible adult?" Bart scowled.
"He is sane.." Citan muttered under his breath.
"Whateva.." Bart looked away.
*************
"I told you, I don't know!" Karina looked away.
"Yeah right." Rico growled.
"Why would they attack us..?" Maria sat down.
"Yeah.. why?" Elly folded her arms.
"You three are not normally this judgmental.." Chu-Chu grumbled.
"So?" Rico squinted.
"I think chu guys are just blaming her because she is new.." Chu-Chu pointed at Rico.
"Thank you… Chu-Chu.." Karina smiled weakly.
"You're welcome.." Chu-Chu grinned.
"I.. have to go.." Karina walked out.
"I still don't think she is telling us the whole truth.." Elly grumbled.
"Well chu any of us all of chu time!?" Chu-Chu scowled.
"No.. I suppose not.." Elly smiled.
"Yes.. Like that time that Billy got drunk and blew up half of my ship?!" Bart ran in.
"That never happened.." Elly glanced at Bart.
"Oh.. I know… It's just Billy has been tellin' Citan things that should not be told.." Bart whispered.
"O-kay.." Elly rolled her eyes. "Like that time you destroyed his lab?"
"….Yeah…"
"He knows."
Meanwhile..
"..Hmm.. hehe.." Jessie laughed.
"Another drink, Master Jesiah?" Maison smiled, holding a large bottle of wine.
"Heh.. Yeah.. Fill'er up, Maison, my good man!" Jessie nudged his wineglass.
"All right.." Maison poured the wine.
"Father!" Billy ran in. "What are you doing?!"
"Oh.. Hey Boy!" Jessie grinned. "Just havin' a good drink!"
"Father.. I told you.. you are not supposed to drink anymore! You have to be a responsible parent for Primera! Do you know what that stuff can do to you? Why are you throwing your life away with that stuff?! You could die from alcohol poisoning! Or worse.. you could-"
"Boy! Would you take a look at who is givin' me a lecture! My sixteen- year-old boy who threw his life away for Stein! You threw away any hope of a good future! Now that you are a 'Holy Man' how are you gonna have a wife or any kids?"
"I don't work for them anymore!" Billy slumped. "And why do I have to explain myself to YOU?!"
"So what? Jes' because you say you leave, you still walk around using the 'Ethos' beliefs!" Jessie finished off the wine. "Old Maison!" He thrust the glass out into the air. "Fill'er up again!"
"Yes sir.."
"…Never mind, Dad, I don't want to get into this with you.." Billy sat down on the stool across from Jessie. "Old Maison.. could I have some tea, please..?"
"Right away, Master Billy." Maison walked behind the counter.
"Me too, Maison.." Fei walked in and sat next to Jessie.
"Fei! Let's have a good drink, eh?" Jessie grinned at Fei.
"Yeah, sure!" Fei nodded and then rolled his eyes. "No way! Tea, Maison, please."
"Yessir.." Maison nodded and walked over to Billy and set the teacup next to Billy and another next to Fei and poured the steaming tea.
"Thank you, Maison.." Billy smiled.
"You're welcome.."
"Boy, you need to learn what fun is all about. Any real man knows it. A man's best friend is beer, rum, vodka, tequila, or any alcoholic beverages to make the senses calm down." Jessie gulped down the wine and held out the glass for Maison to refill.
"Oh yes, that'll make you a lot smarter.." Billy sipped the tea.
"Yeah! Fei knows! It attracts women too, right Fei!?" Jessie slapped Fei on the back.
"Y-Yeah.. sure.." Fei smiled slightly.
"Sure.. You'll smell good enough for a woman and act like a perfect gentleman if you are more drunk that you should be.." Billy said sarcastically.
"It's a lot better than that sissy cologne you wear.." Jessie grabbed his nose.
"…" Billy blushed slightly.
"I like his cologne.. CK Be" Fei glanced at Jessie.
"WHA?? How do YOU know how his cologne smells?" Jessie grabbed Fei by the collar.
"I tried it on once.. It smells good.." Fei leaned his head to the side.
"Whateva.." Jessie dropped him.
"Hello, young ones, Jessiah.." Sigurd walked in.
"Hi, Siggy, want to join us?" Billy smiled.
"Sure.. But only for a few minutes, I am due in the engine room to help check the aft burners.." Sigurd pulled up a stool next to Billy, across from Fei.
"Siggy is a lot better company than you." Billy looked at Jessie with resentment.
"How so?" Sigurd looked at Billy.
"You don't get drunk and then sit there and laugh like a lunatic about it." Billy turned to Sigurd.
"Aw.. You're no fun, Boy." Jessie mumbled and gulped down the wine.
"Life is not all fun and games, Dad.." Billy scolded.
"Ya' see, in our family, we don't have a patriarchal system, we have a 'boytriarchal'." Jessie set down his wineglass.
"Huh?" Fei looked up.
"Patriarchal.. You know what it means Fei, don't you?" Jessie looked over at him and tilted his head to the left.
"It means the father is in charge.."
"Yeah.. So.. Put the pieces together, young man, and you'll get it eventually." Jessie grinned and stood up, his hand on Fei's shoulder. "In the mean time, I'm off to practice shooting outside, we should be at the brat house soon.." Jessie looked over at Billy.
"I wish you wouldn't refer to your home, and the home of a few children as a 'brat house'." Billy glared at his father.
"I swear boy, you treat me like I'm the sixteen-year-old and you're the man." Jessie looked down at his son.
"It's not my fault I'm more mature than my 34-year-old father.." He tilted his platinum head to the side.
"Whateva.." Jessie left the room.
"I must continue onto the engine room.." Sigurd stood up and walked down the spiral staircase.
"That father of mine.." Billy gritted his teeth. "….I wish he would think before he spoke.."
"Billy, you really do need to lighten up a little.." Fei looked over at him.
"Maybe.. But that isn't any of your business, Fei, now is it?" Billy folded his arms.
"Starting with that attitude.." Fei mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing at all, Billy."
*************
"Eh, hehe.. We'll be at the Orphanage soon.. Then we can go to, where was it..?" Bart glanced at Karina.
"Cimerion City.."
"Oh.. Yes.." Bart stammered nervously.
"You seem nervous, Mr. Bart, are you okay?" Karina looked over at him.
"What?!" His voice went up several decibels.
"Well, you keep muttering to yourself, you look like you're going to pass out and you're all sweaty.." How do YOUHH Karina walked up to him. "You sure, you're okay?"
"Yeah! I'm fine!" Bart grinned and looked around. "Franz! Any strange sounds?"
"No, sir." Franz blinked and answered. "Those gear readings are almost done."
"G-Good.." Bart looked at the screen. "How are the aft burners recovering?"
"Just fine, young master.. I'll take the controls now.." Sigurd walked in. "I just had a lovely conversation with Jessie.." Sigurd said sarcastically.
"He's topside, shooting at birds again." Bart walked to the side and Sigurd took the controls.
"I would have expected as much.." Sigurd grumbled.
"Jessie? You mean Billy's father?" Karina blinked.
"Yeah.." The two answered, not looking back.
"Anyway, Sig, I was thinking, Karina wants to go home, so lets just drop her off a Cimerion City and leave it at that." Bart walked up to the controls.
"No, young one, we must send an escort with her, you know those people are after her, and she was after you when she was hypnotized and if they get her again they might just send her back to get us.." Sigurd looked up from the controls for a minute and gestured at Karina.
"I'm gonna go up and see Jessie.." Karina left the room.
"Have fun.." Bart said sarcastically. "Anyhoo, I nominate Billy to escort her.."
"Young master, give it up, besides, we will need more than Billy. I was thinking you and Fei and-"
"Billy?"
"Fine then.. If you so wish to torture him more, go right ahead.." Sigurd looked back down.
*****************
"I've been shootin' at the birdies-" Jessie sang. "All the live long day. Boom!" He grinned. "I've been shootin' at the birdies, cause the boy still won't drink!"
"Um.. Mr. Jessie.." Karina walked up slowly.
"Yes?" Jessie looked up.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" He broke into song. "I'm shootin' at the birdies!"
"Okay.. Hit any yet?" She sat down next to the ex-element.
"Yeah! A 'course I have! 3 blue jays and 5 sparrows!" Jessie sat up and thrust a burlap bag in her face. "Wanna see?!"
"Uh.. No.. No thanks, I think I'll pass.. Hehe.." She smiled weakly and pushed it away slowly.
"Hmph, suit yourself, Angel.." He grinned and set it down.
"..Angel?" She cocked her head to one side.
"Huh? Oh sorry, yeh just looked like an angel, Miss, don't take it the wrong way." Jessie laughed and looked back up. "Bird!" He aimed the rifle.
"Wow! You're good!" Karina smiled as the bird fell out of the sky.
"One crow! Hell yes I'm good! I taught the boy all he knows about guns!" He ran up to his prize and stuffed it in the bag.
"Why are you collecting all your killings?" Karina stood up.
"Gotta scare people! Haven't ya ever heard of my great practical jokes and gags?!" Jessie spun around put his rifle on his shoulder looked down and chuckled to himself.
"I can't say I have.." She looked down and smiled.
"It's about time to put another bird brain in Sig's pillow.. Or maybe the boy would like some bird legs in his tea.. hehe.." Jessie mumbled.
"What?" Karina looked over at him.
"Nothing!" Jessie said innocently.
"Okay.. What's that in the distance..?" Karina squinted and put her hand on her forehead to shadow her eyes from the sun.
"That is the brat house.." Jessie said simply.
"..Brat house?"
"Yeah.. My house.. But Billy turned it into a brat house after I left." Jessie thought back a few years.
"Hey Racquel! I'm back!" A younger Jessie walked in.
"And that, children, is.." A young man stood in the middle of the room with some kids sitting in chairs at a table. He looked up at Jessie and all the children turned to him, their eyes widening. "May I help you..?" He asked slowly.
"Whoa! Who are you?! And who are all these kids?!" Jessie's eyes bulged and he stumbled back a few steps.
"..Children, could you go outside for a moment?" He looked at the children.
"Yes Brother.." They stood up and left the room. The young man turned to him.
"…Who are you, sir?" He squinted slightly.
"I'm Jessie Black! I own this place! Who are you?!"
"Jessie.. Black.." The boy stumbled back. "D..Dad?"
"Hey.. you can't be.. Billy?" Jessie stepped forward.
"I.. am Billy Lee Black.. but you.. you are a stranger.." Billy shook his head.
"Billy?! What are you talking about?! I'm your father!" Jessie looked down.
"You aren't… my father."
"And that little boy just sat there and swore that I wasn't his father…"Jessie mumbled.
"Oh.. That's so sad." Karina leaned to the side.
"Hey, dad, have you seen Karina?" Billy walked up and stopped when he saw Karina. "Oh, hey, there you are."
"Hello, Billy" Karina said gently.
"Hi. What are you doing, dad?" He cocked his head to the side. "You said you were shooting…"
"I am shootin' at the birds, boy." Jessie held up his burlap sack. "Wanna see?"
"N-no, dad, I'll pass."
"Hmph, you and your wife are exactly the same." Jessie frowned. "Squeamish."
"I'm not his wife…"
"She's not my wife."
"Haha, I know…." Jessie looked down. "I know you two ain't married!"
"…Yeah. Hey, look, there's the orphanage!" Billy pointed off in the distance.
"…Your house, right?" Karina blinked.
"Hey, guys!!" Bart ran up. "I just wanted to talk to someone, I was bored!"
"Hi, Bart." Karina smiled.
"Young master, I think you should come and see this…" Sigurd voice came over the intercom. "Along with the other gear pilots."
"Gotcha, Sig!" Bart sighed and rolled his eyes, mouthing the words 'Give me a break'. "Come on, Billy, that means you too!"
"Right, Bart." Billy followed Bart.
"You might wanna go see, too, Miss Karina!" Jessie nodded at the door.
***********
"The readings we got on this gear are phenomenal." Sigurd turned around.
"Well, Sigurd, what is so phenomenal about them?" Fei said gently.
"Well, the exterior seems to be made of an alloy not yet discovered, because the computer cannot get the specific type. But it seems to have amazing defensive and healing capabilities. I mean, some of this technology makes Solaris equipment look like it was made by a bunch of brainless monkeys." Sigurd sighed. "It would be great if we got a lot more information, though."
"You said that this gear may be stronger than Xenogears, well?" Bart stood up.
"Well, if fact, it is much stronger from the readings we got." Sigurd looked over some charts. "Output, 9000, fuel seems to be about 90,000 and Ether is higher than 800, which is more than Elly and Kelvena or any of the Elements."
"My god. It's like the ultimate weapon." Fei stammered.
"Stronger than Xenogears…? Amazing. Sigurd, would you mind if I looked at this?" Citan walked up to him.
"Go right ahead."
"Okay, now. Uh.. um…" Citan looked down and tapped his foot impatiently.
"Uh, Citan, you can't make anything out of it, can you?" Elly whispered.
"I can! Just give me a minute!" A few minutes passed.
"Doc, you have no clue… do you?" Fei folded his arms.
"Well, not really, kinda." Citan looked up and pushed his gold rimmed glasses up off his nose.
"Well..? What did you gather?" Rico said gruffly.
"It seems to have nanomachines in them." Citan whispered. "But I don't know what for.."
"Nanomachines? Like in me?" Emeralda piped up.
"Yes, exactly. But yours are used for a completely different purpose, that is obvious." Citan looked back down.
"Well, we need either a bigger genius than Citan to figure this out or the worlds best mechanic…" Elly summed up.
"Uh.. Excuse me." Karina walked up.
"Karina, yes?" Citan eyed her.
"Uh.. My brother is a really good mechanic, he fixed an entire ship like this one in two days."
"Yeah, it probably had only exterior damage." Bart sat down.
"Its engine was half-severed and the aft-burners were broken completely and the propellers weren't even there." Karina smiled. "And it looked just like new when he was done."
"…He's that good?" Bart popped up. "Woah…"
"I'm sure he'd want to help you… I mean, he would be more than happy." Karina whispered. "Considering how you helped me out and all."
"Well, well, maybe we should pay him a visit." Bart chuckled.
"I may want to discuss machines with him…" Citan looked at the readings.
"Hehe, hey Doc, maybe he could teach you to work on things without huge explosions happening!" Fei laughed.
"Young one!" Citan scolded. "They hardly ever do!"
"Right, doc!" Fei stopped laughing.
"Maria, would you like to come play some chess with me while we wait?" Elly looked at Maria.
"Yeah, sure!" Maria looked up a Elly and smiled.
"Do you think your brother could help me study Nanomachines?" Emeralda ran over to Karina.
"Yeah, I'm sure he would." Karina grinned.
"Come on, Emeralda!" Fei lifted her up on his shoulders.
"Yay! Fei's Kim Fei's Kim!" Emeralda laughed.
"How old is your brother..?" Rico glanced at Karina.
"..He's twenty-one." Karina whispered.
"Oh, thank god, he might be quiet, unlike certain children I know.." Rico nodded at Bart.
"I'm not loud!" Bart yelled.
"You are rather rambunctious.." Citan smiled.
"I am not!"
"And you don't think before you act, and you're rather testy.." Rico continued.
"Testy! You call me testy! Hah! That's the pot callin' the kettle black!" Bart huffed.
"Miss Karina, perhaps we should head to Cimerion City instead of the Orphanage…" Billy shrugged. "I mean, we don't really need to go there."
"I don't mind…" Sigurd nodded. "How would you like to go home a little early, Karina..?"
"Well, it would be nice, I guess." Karina smiled.
"Okay, then, Sig! Switch our coordinates to Cimerion City, pronto!" Bart folded his arms and grinned. "I love saying that!"
"In the meantime, I will be in my room studying these charts." Citan tilted his head to the side. "Bye.." He left the bridge.
"And I'll be in my room working on my guns if you need me." Billy shrugged and left.
"I'll go have a drink at the bar, I guess." Rico sighed.
"Hey hey, Karina! Want me to show you around! We got a great ship here!" Bart turned around.
"Well, sure…" Karina nodded.
"We will be at Cimerion in about two hours." Sigurd called after them.
"Gotcha Sig!"
"Karina.. Why do you want to come..?" Billy looked at her with a piercing look.
"I don't know.." Karina sat in the cockpit.
"You do too.." He grabbed her hand. "Tell me.."
"I-I can't.." She said nervously.
"You.. You are a spy.. Aren't you?!" Billy said with a hurt look.
"No! It isn't that!" Karina gasped.
"Then what is it?!" He didn't look back.
"I can't.. I can't.." Karina whispered.
"Yes, you can!" His ice blue eyes flashed.
"No…." Karina looked away.
"Whatever.." He looked away.
"Billy!! Sup, man?" Bart's voice came over the intercom.
"Hey, Bart." Billy whispered.
"Glad you could join us.." Fei added.
"You boys! We have a job to do! The only people working are Rico and Maria!" Elly scolded.
"Take care of lady Karina, Billy." Citan ordered.
"You had better.." Bart growled.
"She'll be fine.." Billy grumbled.
"I am all right.." Karina whispered.
"Let us keep it that way." Maria panted. "These guys must be new models.. They are very tough.."
"Take this!" Bart laughed as he jumped at the other gears.
"Young one, you are very reckless.." Citan threw his sword into one of the gears.
"It is fun! I need a CD player in here playin' rock or somethin'!" Andvari flew out of the midst of explosions.
"There is no end to them.." Karina looked around.
"And they are after you?" Billy blinked. "Why are you so important..?"
"I will tell you later.." She decided to trust him. "But how do we know that they had the intentions to fight..?"
"They began fire on us a few moments before we got out here!" Sigurd's voice came over the intercom.
"Oh… I see… Anyway… I will tell you why I think they are attacking us after we get out of here…"
"If we get out of this.." Billy whispered grimly.
"What?!" Karina's voice became high. "What do you mean?!"
"Billy! Do we need to have the discussion about probability of us winning?!" Bart yelled.
"No."
"Good. Then we shall not talk further about this, I'll have your resume' in the mail tomorrow." Bart sighed.
"Karina.." Billy cut off the transmission so that the others couldn't hear.
"Yes?" She looked at him.
"I am sorry.." Billy whispered.
"It is all right.. I understand.." Karina smiled.
"Good.." He sighed and looked back.
"You have been eerily silent Billers, you ain't doin' something to Kar, are you?" Bart's incessant voice drummed in.
"Bart!" Billy whined.
"Hi, Bart.." Karina smiled.
"Hey, the dudes seemed to have stopped comin'!" Bart yelled.
"But who.. I- I mean WHAT is that?!" Citan squawked. "It seems to be a new model gear of some sort.. intriguing.."
"It ain't 'intriguing'!" Bart yelled.
"It is.." Fei trailed off. A huge gear stood in front of them. "A fat bas--"
"Fei! We have minors in here! No cursing!" Elly growled.
"I know! Billy can't here that sort of stuff! Keh hehe" Bart snickered.
"I am going to ignore that.." Billy whispered.
"I am going to sing the doom song now! Doom doom doom doom.." Bart laughed.
"Bart.. Please stop singing!" Billy whimpered.
"My systems won't work, Fei's Kim!" Crescens floated uselessly in the air.
"Nor mine!" Citan whined.
"Hark! Mineth willnotith workith eitherith!!" Bart squeaked.
"Nice accent, Bart.. Mine either.." Billy tried to move the arm.
"Damn- I- I mean DARN! Oh screw it! DAMN!!!" Fei screamed.
"Sig! A little backup would be nice!!!" Bart yelled.
"Sorry, young master, but our systems are jammed.." Sigurd whispered.
"Great.." Billy frowned. "Are you sure there isn't anything you can do, Siggy?"
"Stop calling him Siggy you little..!" Bart trailed off.
"It is after me! Let it have me!" Karina
"No way.." Billy whispered. "I won't let that happen."
"Keep on dancing around her Billers, you'll score soon." Bart growled.
"Give me the girl.." The gear spoke.
"Who are you?!" Billy looked over at it.
"Never mind that, give me the girl now!" The gear turned to Renmazuo.
"Not on your life!" Bart dared.
"Why do you want me?!" Karina begged.
"You know lady Karina.." It whispered.
"No.. I don't!" She dug her fingers into Billy's cloak.
"Calm down, Kar.." Billy whispered.
"You won't let her go.. Then die!" It rammed into Renmazuo.
"Billers!" Bart shook his head. "What am I talking about?! Karina!!"
"Leave them alone!" Crescens lunged at it.
"Back, little android!" It slammed Crescens away like it was paper.
"Ugh.." Billy grabbed his head. "That is gonna hurt tomorrow.. Karina?" He glanced back. "Karina.. are you okay?"
"Thanks to you, I am.." She rubbed her leg. "Ouch.."
"Is your leg okay?" He whispered.
"Yeah.." She sighed.
"Time to finish you all off.." The gear growled.
"Oh.." Bart whimpered. "SHIT!!"
"Burning.." It started. "What the?!" It screamed.
"Get out now, Lady, young ones.." A soft voice whispered.
"Who are you?!" It screamed. A large black gear with black wings hovered behind the other gear.
"Get out now.." It whispered.
"I say we take the dude's free pass out of this.." Bart blinked.
"Let us go now.. Young ones.." Citan pulled Bart away.
"Gotcha.." Renmazuo wobbled up and followed Fenrir and Andvari uneasily.
"Emeralda, Elly, let's get.." Xenogears flew away.
"Right!" Vierge and Crescens followed.
"Now, come on." The black gear pulled out a huge scythe. The other gear turned to it.
"What was that?" Billy whispered.
"Not again." Karina looked over his shoulder.
"What?" He glanced back.
"N-Nothing." She looked away.
"Sig!" Bart ran in. "Sig, I want you to turn 90 southwest and take down the aft burners! After that, get this ship out of here by air! It will move a lot faster.." Bart looked up at the screen. "Those gears are havin' it out.. That black gear.. get a reading on it.."
"Impossible, young master.. It has some sort of shield.. My god the model is amazing though.. It is obvious that it may just be stronger than Xenogears.. We can get readings and pictures.. but it will take a few hours after we get out of this for the computer to compile it all.." Sigurd turned the Yggdrasil.
"Stronger than Xenogears?! That's impossible!" Bart shook his head. "Aw.. Screw it! We'll see later! You just get us out of here before our asses get burned!"
"I thought I told you to get out of here!" The gear turned to the Yggdrasil.
"We are tryin'! That thing has a grab on us and we can't shake it loose!" Bart grabbed the intercom.
"Fine then.. Let me assist you then.." It smashed into the other gear and turned back. "It can't keep that grab on you while it is in defense mode.."
"Whatever.. Sig, you know how much I hate taking charity like this, but we had better get out before we get our butts burned.." Bart nodded at Sigurd.
"Right.." Sigurd turned on the aft burners and shot the Yggdrasil up into the air. "Hold on, Young master!"
"I- I am!" Bart clung onto one of the rails. He fell over and skidded against a wall.
"We are now out of the area of the gears.." He smiled weakly.
"Sig.. next time we do that.. give me a little more warning.." Bart panted. "But that was pretty cool.."
"Young master, the aft burners are damaged from being turned on too quickly and being overheated." He turned to Bart and gestured at the door. "You go relax for a few minutes, I'll finish here and then go down and check them.. In about and hour and a half could you come back up and take control?"
"Yeah, sure!" Bart grinned and gave him a thumbs up then ran out.
"Okay now." Bart paced back and forth.
"Young one, you have paced around saying that and then sighing for the past hour, what are you thinking about?" Citan glanced up. "I can't concentrate." He said rather impatiently.
"Well, Citan, I was thinking.." Bart stopped.
"Yes..?" Citan stood up.
"That maybe.." Bart looked around and leaned forward, his voice lowering to a whisper.
"What?!" Citan blinked.
"If Karina were a spy, she definitely wouldn't tell US right?" He looked down.
"Yeah, I suppose." Citan shrugged.
"So, she may be a spy." Bart sat up, grinning.
"And it took you an hour to think THAT up, congratulations Bartholomew." Billy clapped and rolled his eyes sarcastically.
"Where did you come from!?" Bart turned around.
"I've been here for fifteen minutes." Billy looked at him with his usual void of expression face.
"Whateva, anyhoo, I want you, yes YOU to.." Bart walked up to him and swung his arm over Billy's shoulder.
"What..?" Billy leaned away.
"Be sort of, a mole for me." Bart grinned.
"A mole.. why?" Billy squinted at him.
"Because.. Karina might be a spy and.. and.. I'm sure that if she is, she wants to kill me! I have a reason to be killed, besides my strikingly good looks and high intellect," Bart stopped.
"Yes, and these strikingly good looks and high intellect, where have you been hiding them?" Billy pulled away.
"You little..!" Bart swore under his breath. "Anyway, I DO have reasons to be killed."
"Is it because of that time we went to a carnival and you got drunk and you and Sigurd, Citan and my dad, curse him, painted each others stomachs and ran around and sang that god awful song.. And then you single- handedly destroyed the merry-go-round, while Fei and Elly were on it, resulting in lighting Fei's hair on fire, and then made most of the carnival go up in flames? And after that the manager chased after us saying he was going to get you and then you-" Billy said quickly. Citan looked over.
"No!" Bart grabbed Billy and covered his mouth. "During my hangover I told you, as the only person capable of thinking after and during that event, that we would never, NEVER mention that night, again!" Bart hissed.
"Bart, you said there was only minimal damage.." Citan grabbed his head.
"It was a small carnival!" Bart smiled. "Anyhoo, no, that was not the discussed murder threat." Bart growled.
"Oh, do you mean the flaming arrow flying through your window with the murder threat on it from the manager of that Cajun restaurant because you ate the whole buffet, salad bar and dessert cart and put that place out of business after you got drunk and painted my dad, curse him, and your stomachs with hot sauce and ran around singing that god awful song and then lit the place on fire after running into the kitchen and breaking a bottle of wine over an electric stove and spilling grease into the fire on the flambee' and then getting it all on you, making you run around screaming like a raving lunatic and lighting Fei's hair on fire and then while we ran away, you broke one of weight bearing poles, holding the place up, making it collapse into a fiery pile of Cajun seasoned hell?" Billy said quickly.
"Bart, do all of our outings end up in you and Jessie getting drunk and running around the place painting each others stomachs and singing that 'god awful song' and then lighting Fei's hair on fire and ending with us running away and the place exploding into some sort of fiery hell?" Citan added. "And having the manager send us some sort of threatening letter saying he is going to kill you?"
"Billy, you little nark!" Bart glared at Billy. "Why do you pay such close attention to my stupid antics!?"
"Oh, I don't anymore, I'm used to it now. Those incidents were from last month." Billy grinned. "Plus, I like getting you in trouble."
"Gawd! You are like a priest! How could you be such a little..!?" Bart stopped.
"Well! There are a lot of murder threats! Should we get out the big black box of Bart's murder threats?" Billy flinched.
"My beautiful hair finally grew back.." Fei sat against the wall, stroking the long ponytail of dark brown hair.
"Yeah.. It's about time for a barbecue.. It's getting too long.." Bart squinted.
"You stay away from my hair you insane prince- pirate boy!" Fei clenched his hair and glared at Bart.
"I am leaving before you get into one of your tiffs.." Billy tiptoed away.
"Citan, why aren't you leaving? Bart glanced at him.
"There has to be at least one responsible adult in the room with you two." Citan shrugged.
"You count BILLY as a responsible adult?" Bart scowled.
"He is sane.." Citan muttered under his breath.
"Whateva.." Bart looked away.
*************
"I told you, I don't know!" Karina looked away.
"Yeah right." Rico growled.
"Why would they attack us..?" Maria sat down.
"Yeah.. why?" Elly folded her arms.
"You three are not normally this judgmental.." Chu-Chu grumbled.
"So?" Rico squinted.
"I think chu guys are just blaming her because she is new.." Chu-Chu pointed at Rico.
"Thank you… Chu-Chu.." Karina smiled weakly.
"You're welcome.." Chu-Chu grinned.
"I.. have to go.." Karina walked out.
"I still don't think she is telling us the whole truth.." Elly grumbled.
"Well chu any of us all of chu time!?" Chu-Chu scowled.
"No.. I suppose not.." Elly smiled.
"Yes.. Like that time that Billy got drunk and blew up half of my ship?!" Bart ran in.
"That never happened.." Elly glanced at Bart.
"Oh.. I know… It's just Billy has been tellin' Citan things that should not be told.." Bart whispered.
"O-kay.." Elly rolled her eyes. "Like that time you destroyed his lab?"
"….Yeah…"
"He knows."
Meanwhile..
"..Hmm.. hehe.." Jessie laughed.
"Another drink, Master Jesiah?" Maison smiled, holding a large bottle of wine.
"Heh.. Yeah.. Fill'er up, Maison, my good man!" Jessie nudged his wineglass.
"All right.." Maison poured the wine.
"Father!" Billy ran in. "What are you doing?!"
"Oh.. Hey Boy!" Jessie grinned. "Just havin' a good drink!"
"Father.. I told you.. you are not supposed to drink anymore! You have to be a responsible parent for Primera! Do you know what that stuff can do to you? Why are you throwing your life away with that stuff?! You could die from alcohol poisoning! Or worse.. you could-"
"Boy! Would you take a look at who is givin' me a lecture! My sixteen- year-old boy who threw his life away for Stein! You threw away any hope of a good future! Now that you are a 'Holy Man' how are you gonna have a wife or any kids?"
"I don't work for them anymore!" Billy slumped. "And why do I have to explain myself to YOU?!"
"So what? Jes' because you say you leave, you still walk around using the 'Ethos' beliefs!" Jessie finished off the wine. "Old Maison!" He thrust the glass out into the air. "Fill'er up again!"
"Yes sir.."
"…Never mind, Dad, I don't want to get into this with you.." Billy sat down on the stool across from Jessie. "Old Maison.. could I have some tea, please..?"
"Right away, Master Billy." Maison walked behind the counter.
"Me too, Maison.." Fei walked in and sat next to Jessie.
"Fei! Let's have a good drink, eh?" Jessie grinned at Fei.
"Yeah, sure!" Fei nodded and then rolled his eyes. "No way! Tea, Maison, please."
"Yessir.." Maison nodded and walked over to Billy and set the teacup next to Billy and another next to Fei and poured the steaming tea.
"Thank you, Maison.." Billy smiled.
"You're welcome.."
"Boy, you need to learn what fun is all about. Any real man knows it. A man's best friend is beer, rum, vodka, tequila, or any alcoholic beverages to make the senses calm down." Jessie gulped down the wine and held out the glass for Maison to refill.
"Oh yes, that'll make you a lot smarter.." Billy sipped the tea.
"Yeah! Fei knows! It attracts women too, right Fei!?" Jessie slapped Fei on the back.
"Y-Yeah.. sure.." Fei smiled slightly.
"Sure.. You'll smell good enough for a woman and act like a perfect gentleman if you are more drunk that you should be.." Billy said sarcastically.
"It's a lot better than that sissy cologne you wear.." Jessie grabbed his nose.
"…" Billy blushed slightly.
"I like his cologne.. CK Be" Fei glanced at Jessie.
"WHA?? How do YOU know how his cologne smells?" Jessie grabbed Fei by the collar.
"I tried it on once.. It smells good.." Fei leaned his head to the side.
"Whateva.." Jessie dropped him.
"Hello, young ones, Jessiah.." Sigurd walked in.
"Hi, Siggy, want to join us?" Billy smiled.
"Sure.. But only for a few minutes, I am due in the engine room to help check the aft burners.." Sigurd pulled up a stool next to Billy, across from Fei.
"Siggy is a lot better company than you." Billy looked at Jessie with resentment.
"How so?" Sigurd looked at Billy.
"You don't get drunk and then sit there and laugh like a lunatic about it." Billy turned to Sigurd.
"Aw.. You're no fun, Boy." Jessie mumbled and gulped down the wine.
"Life is not all fun and games, Dad.." Billy scolded.
"Ya' see, in our family, we don't have a patriarchal system, we have a 'boytriarchal'." Jessie set down his wineglass.
"Huh?" Fei looked up.
"Patriarchal.. You know what it means Fei, don't you?" Jessie looked over at him and tilted his head to the left.
"It means the father is in charge.."
"Yeah.. So.. Put the pieces together, young man, and you'll get it eventually." Jessie grinned and stood up, his hand on Fei's shoulder. "In the mean time, I'm off to practice shooting outside, we should be at the brat house soon.." Jessie looked over at Billy.
"I wish you wouldn't refer to your home, and the home of a few children as a 'brat house'." Billy glared at his father.
"I swear boy, you treat me like I'm the sixteen-year-old and you're the man." Jessie looked down at his son.
"It's not my fault I'm more mature than my 34-year-old father.." He tilted his platinum head to the side.
"Whateva.." Jessie left the room.
"I must continue onto the engine room.." Sigurd stood up and walked down the spiral staircase.
"That father of mine.." Billy gritted his teeth. "….I wish he would think before he spoke.."
"Billy, you really do need to lighten up a little.." Fei looked over at him.
"Maybe.. But that isn't any of your business, Fei, now is it?" Billy folded his arms.
"Starting with that attitude.." Fei mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing at all, Billy."
*************
"Eh, hehe.. We'll be at the Orphanage soon.. Then we can go to, where was it..?" Bart glanced at Karina.
"Cimerion City.."
"Oh.. Yes.." Bart stammered nervously.
"You seem nervous, Mr. Bart, are you okay?" Karina looked over at him.
"What?!" His voice went up several decibels.
"Well, you keep muttering to yourself, you look like you're going to pass out and you're all sweaty.." How do YOUHH Karina walked up to him. "You sure, you're okay?"
"Yeah! I'm fine!" Bart grinned and looked around. "Franz! Any strange sounds?"
"No, sir." Franz blinked and answered. "Those gear readings are almost done."
"G-Good.." Bart looked at the screen. "How are the aft burners recovering?"
"Just fine, young master.. I'll take the controls now.." Sigurd walked in. "I just had a lovely conversation with Jessie.." Sigurd said sarcastically.
"He's topside, shooting at birds again." Bart walked to the side and Sigurd took the controls.
"I would have expected as much.." Sigurd grumbled.
"Jessie? You mean Billy's father?" Karina blinked.
"Yeah.." The two answered, not looking back.
"Anyway, Sig, I was thinking, Karina wants to go home, so lets just drop her off a Cimerion City and leave it at that." Bart walked up to the controls.
"No, young one, we must send an escort with her, you know those people are after her, and she was after you when she was hypnotized and if they get her again they might just send her back to get us.." Sigurd looked up from the controls for a minute and gestured at Karina.
"I'm gonna go up and see Jessie.." Karina left the room.
"Have fun.." Bart said sarcastically. "Anyhoo, I nominate Billy to escort her.."
"Young master, give it up, besides, we will need more than Billy. I was thinking you and Fei and-"
"Billy?"
"Fine then.. If you so wish to torture him more, go right ahead.." Sigurd looked back down.
*****************
"I've been shootin' at the birdies-" Jessie sang. "All the live long day. Boom!" He grinned. "I've been shootin' at the birdies, cause the boy still won't drink!"
"Um.. Mr. Jessie.." Karina walked up slowly.
"Yes?" Jessie looked up.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" He broke into song. "I'm shootin' at the birdies!"
"Okay.. Hit any yet?" She sat down next to the ex-element.
"Yeah! A 'course I have! 3 blue jays and 5 sparrows!" Jessie sat up and thrust a burlap bag in her face. "Wanna see?!"
"Uh.. No.. No thanks, I think I'll pass.. Hehe.." She smiled weakly and pushed it away slowly.
"Hmph, suit yourself, Angel.." He grinned and set it down.
"..Angel?" She cocked her head to one side.
"Huh? Oh sorry, yeh just looked like an angel, Miss, don't take it the wrong way." Jessie laughed and looked back up. "Bird!" He aimed the rifle.
"Wow! You're good!" Karina smiled as the bird fell out of the sky.
"One crow! Hell yes I'm good! I taught the boy all he knows about guns!" He ran up to his prize and stuffed it in the bag.
"Why are you collecting all your killings?" Karina stood up.
"Gotta scare people! Haven't ya ever heard of my great practical jokes and gags?!" Jessie spun around put his rifle on his shoulder looked down and chuckled to himself.
"I can't say I have.." She looked down and smiled.
"It's about time to put another bird brain in Sig's pillow.. Or maybe the boy would like some bird legs in his tea.. hehe.." Jessie mumbled.
"What?" Karina looked over at him.
"Nothing!" Jessie said innocently.
"Okay.. What's that in the distance..?" Karina squinted and put her hand on her forehead to shadow her eyes from the sun.
"That is the brat house.." Jessie said simply.
"..Brat house?"
"Yeah.. My house.. But Billy turned it into a brat house after I left." Jessie thought back a few years.
"Hey Racquel! I'm back!" A younger Jessie walked in.
"And that, children, is.." A young man stood in the middle of the room with some kids sitting in chairs at a table. He looked up at Jessie and all the children turned to him, their eyes widening. "May I help you..?" He asked slowly.
"Whoa! Who are you?! And who are all these kids?!" Jessie's eyes bulged and he stumbled back a few steps.
"..Children, could you go outside for a moment?" He looked at the children.
"Yes Brother.." They stood up and left the room. The young man turned to him.
"…Who are you, sir?" He squinted slightly.
"I'm Jessie Black! I own this place! Who are you?!"
"Jessie.. Black.." The boy stumbled back. "D..Dad?"
"Hey.. you can't be.. Billy?" Jessie stepped forward.
"I.. am Billy Lee Black.. but you.. you are a stranger.." Billy shook his head.
"Billy?! What are you talking about?! I'm your father!" Jessie looked down.
"You aren't… my father."
"And that little boy just sat there and swore that I wasn't his father…"Jessie mumbled.
"Oh.. That's so sad." Karina leaned to the side.
"Hey, dad, have you seen Karina?" Billy walked up and stopped when he saw Karina. "Oh, hey, there you are."
"Hello, Billy" Karina said gently.
"Hi. What are you doing, dad?" He cocked his head to the side. "You said you were shooting…"
"I am shootin' at the birds, boy." Jessie held up his burlap sack. "Wanna see?"
"N-no, dad, I'll pass."
"Hmph, you and your wife are exactly the same." Jessie frowned. "Squeamish."
"I'm not his wife…"
"She's not my wife."
"Haha, I know…." Jessie looked down. "I know you two ain't married!"
"…Yeah. Hey, look, there's the orphanage!" Billy pointed off in the distance.
"…Your house, right?" Karina blinked.
"Hey, guys!!" Bart ran up. "I just wanted to talk to someone, I was bored!"
"Hi, Bart." Karina smiled.
"Young master, I think you should come and see this…" Sigurd voice came over the intercom. "Along with the other gear pilots."
"Gotcha, Sig!" Bart sighed and rolled his eyes, mouthing the words 'Give me a break'. "Come on, Billy, that means you too!"
"Right, Bart." Billy followed Bart.
"You might wanna go see, too, Miss Karina!" Jessie nodded at the door.
***********
"The readings we got on this gear are phenomenal." Sigurd turned around.
"Well, Sigurd, what is so phenomenal about them?" Fei said gently.
"Well, the exterior seems to be made of an alloy not yet discovered, because the computer cannot get the specific type. But it seems to have amazing defensive and healing capabilities. I mean, some of this technology makes Solaris equipment look like it was made by a bunch of brainless monkeys." Sigurd sighed. "It would be great if we got a lot more information, though."
"You said that this gear may be stronger than Xenogears, well?" Bart stood up.
"Well, if fact, it is much stronger from the readings we got." Sigurd looked over some charts. "Output, 9000, fuel seems to be about 90,000 and Ether is higher than 800, which is more than Elly and Kelvena or any of the Elements."
"My god. It's like the ultimate weapon." Fei stammered.
"Stronger than Xenogears…? Amazing. Sigurd, would you mind if I looked at this?" Citan walked up to him.
"Go right ahead."
"Okay, now. Uh.. um…" Citan looked down and tapped his foot impatiently.
"Uh, Citan, you can't make anything out of it, can you?" Elly whispered.
"I can! Just give me a minute!" A few minutes passed.
"Doc, you have no clue… do you?" Fei folded his arms.
"Well, not really, kinda." Citan looked up and pushed his gold rimmed glasses up off his nose.
"Well..? What did you gather?" Rico said gruffly.
"It seems to have nanomachines in them." Citan whispered. "But I don't know what for.."
"Nanomachines? Like in me?" Emeralda piped up.
"Yes, exactly. But yours are used for a completely different purpose, that is obvious." Citan looked back down.
"Well, we need either a bigger genius than Citan to figure this out or the worlds best mechanic…" Elly summed up.
"Uh.. Excuse me." Karina walked up.
"Karina, yes?" Citan eyed her.
"Uh.. My brother is a really good mechanic, he fixed an entire ship like this one in two days."
"Yeah, it probably had only exterior damage." Bart sat down.
"Its engine was half-severed and the aft-burners were broken completely and the propellers weren't even there." Karina smiled. "And it looked just like new when he was done."
"…He's that good?" Bart popped up. "Woah…"
"I'm sure he'd want to help you… I mean, he would be more than happy." Karina whispered. "Considering how you helped me out and all."
"Well, well, maybe we should pay him a visit." Bart chuckled.
"I may want to discuss machines with him…" Citan looked at the readings.
"Hehe, hey Doc, maybe he could teach you to work on things without huge explosions happening!" Fei laughed.
"Young one!" Citan scolded. "They hardly ever do!"
"Right, doc!" Fei stopped laughing.
"Maria, would you like to come play some chess with me while we wait?" Elly looked at Maria.
"Yeah, sure!" Maria looked up a Elly and smiled.
"Do you think your brother could help me study Nanomachines?" Emeralda ran over to Karina.
"Yeah, I'm sure he would." Karina grinned.
"Come on, Emeralda!" Fei lifted her up on his shoulders.
"Yay! Fei's Kim Fei's Kim!" Emeralda laughed.
"How old is your brother..?" Rico glanced at Karina.
"..He's twenty-one." Karina whispered.
"Oh, thank god, he might be quiet, unlike certain children I know.." Rico nodded at Bart.
"I'm not loud!" Bart yelled.
"You are rather rambunctious.." Citan smiled.
"I am not!"
"And you don't think before you act, and you're rather testy.." Rico continued.
"Testy! You call me testy! Hah! That's the pot callin' the kettle black!" Bart huffed.
"Miss Karina, perhaps we should head to Cimerion City instead of the Orphanage…" Billy shrugged. "I mean, we don't really need to go there."
"I don't mind…" Sigurd nodded. "How would you like to go home a little early, Karina..?"
"Well, it would be nice, I guess." Karina smiled.
"Okay, then, Sig! Switch our coordinates to Cimerion City, pronto!" Bart folded his arms and grinned. "I love saying that!"
"In the meantime, I will be in my room studying these charts." Citan tilted his head to the side. "Bye.." He left the bridge.
"And I'll be in my room working on my guns if you need me." Billy shrugged and left.
"I'll go have a drink at the bar, I guess." Rico sighed.
"Hey hey, Karina! Want me to show you around! We got a great ship here!" Bart turned around.
"Well, sure…" Karina nodded.
"We will be at Cimerion in about two hours." Sigurd called after them.
"Gotcha Sig!"